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Thanks again everyone for all the valuable information. Turns out I checked my efficiency again the other day after looking at my fg for another beer I was doing and I wasn't allowing my refractometer readings to be calibrated along with the wort. After using beersmith to look at the...

Thanks for all the information! In regards to my pre-boil volume it was about 6.25 gallons. My issue here was I sparged too much water on my 2nd run in the tun due to wanting to make sure I hit the right mash temperature and had a lot left over. I knew I needed about 6.25 gallons in my kettle...

With my mill I set it to .40 with a feeler gauge which is what monster mill recommended. Any suggestions there for gap? My original volume was 3.75 gal strike water, the added maybe a quart to reach mash temp, added a quart more after. My Sparge was 4 gal. I usually shoot for 4 and keep an eye...

You know even with the calibration at the beginning I still feel I want to get a digital to double check. I'm glad you mentioned the temperature piece because I can be a lot more vigilant with that now knowing that a few degrees has a large impact. As far as the last Sparge, it was a big...

My fellow brewing brethren, I need your help once again. I have been brewing all grain now for about 9 months and for the life of me am still struggling to hit my numbers. I will go into all the details below but I am consistently checking my pre-boil and post boil readings and always off from...

I really appreciate everyone's help with this. I am going to go over my calculations first off to see if there are any miscalculations there. Also going to check to make sure my measuring devices are all properly calibrated. My last order of business will be to get my grains milled elsewhere. A...

This is all great info. So Doug, my question is this: My deadspace is 1.25 gal under the false bottom however maybe I am referring to it incorrectly because I definitely am able to get most of that out of my mashtun. I will often tilt the tun to get out as much as possible though the bulkhead...

Doug how do you use those parameters to figure out mash efficiency?

I am getting my grains double crushed at my LHBS. I have considered a mill at this point but I am also checking everything else to see if there's something I'm missing. As far as the samples, I took pre-boil gravities just to check with beersmith's suggested pre-boil gravity was as well. I cool...

With this batch I didn't have a clear og reading without the syrup so there is not a finite number there but my other batches my og's were typically .012-.020 off.

Stillraining, no it's good to hear others opinions and experiences. I feel I am getting spot on with my process but this numbers game is what's killing me. Beers have been tasting great but there is something along the way that I am missing because my target gravity and abv is always off...

Thanks stillraining. I am using beersmith v2 and pretty much punching in my grain bill, hops and yeast and then using the numbers they give me as far as gravity readings. Being new at home brewing (under a year) is there a calculator you use to cross reference with the beersmith numbers? I'm...

Ok everyone, I am once again here asking for guidance as my issue with efficiency is not correcting itself. I just brewed a porter the other day and my pre-boil gravity readings were way lower than expected. I was supposed to hit 1.055 and wound up at 1.031. This was after mashing for about an...

Ok guys after your advice I actually downloaded and used Bru'n water to see what the estimate of my mash ph was. After taking a look at things, I always treat my water with gypsum and epsom salt to get reach a preferred water profile but according to Bru'n after those additions my water's ph...

Awesome Doug, that explains that process a lot better. I am determined to get my efficiency up and knowing all the contributing factors and how to assess them makes a huge difference. I know there is something along the way I am missing.

Great, that helps a lot. I was thinking of running the same recipe through another program too, just to see if the OG's still remain the same but I'm guessing that isn't going to change much. The grains are what they are.

Thanks, yea the grain crush is one of the few things I do not have control over right now. Being that this is a new purchase, what is your advice on 2 or 3 roller mill?

Are there any ph testing products you would recommend?

Thanks Mcknuckle, yea I am learning that product is a lot of hot air.

Thanks for the reply. I actually do not know what the setting on their mill is, but I have started to think of milling my own grains. As far as the 90 minutes, I have only done 75 at most. I actually did an iodine test yesterday and there was no dark or purple in the mash sample I took so I'm...